Experience
the ultimate music studio retreat
with industry talent
behind Arctic Monkeys, DJ Shadow & Adele
Dive into the art of making amazing records
The Music Production Retreat brings the creative process to life — giving you the time, space and expertise to truly elevate your sound.
Stay for five nights & enjoy four full days of immersive, collaborative studio sessions at our world-class recording facility, working alongside Grammy-winning talent. From songwriting & arrangement to recording and mixing, you’ll experience every stage of professional music production at the highest level.
We are now taking bookings for retreats in
September 27-2nd, November 8-13th, & also February 14th-19th 2027
“Clarity, Creativity, Connection. The retreat helped me find myself again.
I absolutely loved being surrounded by so many passionate & talented people. The SSL desk & all the studios are amazing. Producers & engineers are always around to help you & there so many areas to immerse yourself in, so you can work on your song alone or collaborate with other artists.
If you’re thinking about doing this retreat - Do it! The MPR team, the session musicians & sound engineers have created something very special. I hope I can come back again one day!” - Ishani 2025
Learn new skills, make friends, and develop your music in an inspiring, fully immersive setting.
MPR is built around a fun & supportive environment where creativity thrives. The magic truly comes alive in this incredible, secluded countryside location — giving you the space to escape distractions and focus entirely on your craft.
You’ll collaborate closely with experienced professionals who have worked with some of the biggest artists of the past 20 years, gaining real insight into songwriting, production, recording & mixing at the highest level.
“WOW, what an incredible experience. I loved it so much I’m coming back in 2025. The small groups & flexibility encouraged collaboration. The team worked hard to make sure everyone reached their goals. The food & hospitality was top class & they could not be more welcoming.” - Barry 2024
“The magic was that we naturally collaborated across genres. This was brilliant & I felt brought us all together regardless of music tastes. We all had the passion for music in common & wanted to help each other out to achieve a great result in each of our own projects.” - Andy 2024
About Us
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Barny, Chris & Jim worked together in 2004 & remained close friends & regular collaborators ever since.
The idea for MPR came about as a combination of their collective experience in the music industry, working alongside some of the greats of the business.
They wanted to create a unique residential workshop experience that is fun & rewarding, a chance to escape & work closely with like-minded people who are passionate & want to learn more about the art of making records.
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The chance to enjoy & learn on a 5-night residential getaway hosted at Blue Bell Hill Studios, Kent.
You will be one of nine guests & we tailor your MPR to concentrate on the specific aspects of production you are interested in.
We have session players attending, including drums & percussion, strings, vocals, keys, guitars, bass & harmonica.
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With our combined experience, knowledge & the first-class facilities, we can cover every aspect of the record production process, from writing through to mixing & even DIY mastering!
We believe a hands-on-the-tools approach is the best way to learn. We work with you in small groups, in a relaxed & fun environment that’s conducive to learning & producing those moments of magic.
The Course
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Our Music Production Retreats take place throughout the year.
Prices for the 5-night MPR start from £1750.
You can book onto our reservation lists for an upcoming course at any time.
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Aim to arrive around 5pm, grab a Prosecco, a quick tour, & then we will have meeting in the live room where we’ll explain the running order for the week ahead, then it’s time to relax before dinner.
Sunday is a great evening to meet your fellow retreaters & then get a good night’s sleep before the action starts!
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Breakfast (9-10am)
A cooked breakfast is available everyday, or a continental option including cereals, breads, croissants, jams & spreads, and fruits.
Tea, Coffee & juices are available all day.
SESSION 1 (10-1pm)
We run 3 or 4 groups concurrently, with 2-3 people in each, giving you hands-on experience & all the attention you need.
See here for more info on personnel attending.
LUNCH (1-2pm)
Lunch can be purchased from Nutkins Cafe, which is on-site at Squirrel’s riding school.
If you fancy there is also the Robin Hood Pub or Blue Bells Cafe in the village, or you may want to bring your own lunch which you are most welcome to do.
SESSION 2 (2-5pm)
As with session 1, we run several groups concurrently during this period.
DINNER (7pm)
A fantastic three-course dinner will be prepared & served to you by the fabulous chef Cayetano. Drinks are not included, but we do have a selection of wines to purchase ahead of the retreat, or of course you can bring your own drinks.
After dinner you are free to relax in front of the fire, visit the local pub or enjoy the evening at your leisure.
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Continental Breakfast from 8.30, & check out at 10am.
The Sessions
Before your stay, let us know the areas you’re most interested in, & we’ll tailor the sessions to ensure you get the maximum benefit from your time.
We work in small, supportive groups, fostering collaboration & hands-on learning. Our “learning by doing” approach gives you direct experience with professional equipment & real-world studio techniques. Every moment is designed to be practical, engaging, & inspiring, so you leave not just with knowledge, but with tangible skills & creative confidence.
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Chris has over 20 years' experience of songwriting & has worked with a diverse range of artists. So has Ian Dowling, Ian won a Grammy for mixing the Adele record.
They help you make sure the chords, structure, arrangement, lyrics & melody are on point, which is essential before starting the production process.
We have a great choice of guitars, synths & software instruments available for you to use. If you don't play an instrument, don't worry! We have many loops available & can help you get your ideas into great shape.
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With our years of experience, we guide you through the maze of recording techniques that we have successfully used during our careers. A guest session player will attend for us to record & multi-track.
We have a wide range of equipment at our disposal but you are also welcome to bring any equipment or instruments of your own & we can help you get the best out of recording them.
The signal chain & gain structure is one of most important aspects of recording. We will demonstrate this process, working with pre-amps, compression, EQ, mic choices & placements.
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The art of production covers all aspects of making a record. From getting the best out of the musicians, to ensuring you’ve compiled the perfect vocal from the best takes.
Ultimately, it’s about making the right choices. We will demystify this process with a hands-on approach, by making these artistic decisions together.
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With many No. 1 albums & hit singles to his name, Barny will guide you through the ‘dark art’ of mixing. He can provide hands-on experience, covering both ‘in the box’ (DAW) & ‘on the board’ (console) mixing techniques.
The G series SSL console at Blue Bell Hill Studios is the console of choice for world-class studios across the globe. The SSL has a rich history with countless hits being mixed on it, including those by The Happy Mondays, Elvis Costello, Joy Division, Primal Scream, The Killers, Elbow & hundreds more.
We will take you through this classic console & how to get the most from its iconic sound.
The Studio
Blue Bell Hill Studios
Just an hour from central London, artists & producers love escaping the hustle of the city to immerse themselves in our peaceful countryside retreat.
This highly equipped & inspiring residential studio is one of the most in-demand recording facilities in the UK, consistently delivering high-quality records. Over the years, it has been the creative home for some of the most influential tracks in recent music history, combining world-class technology, expert guidance, and a serene environment that fuels creativity.
The Team
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Barny Barnicott
Mixer
Barny is one of the UK’s leading mixers, working with many top artists including Arctic Monkeys & Laura Marling in a diverse range of genres. He set up Blue Bell Hill Studios in 2007, which adjoins Denmark House, it has now become one of the most in demand studios in the UK.
Barny has worked with Sam Fender, Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, Stereophonics, Jungle, Placebo, Kasabian, Suede & many more.
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Ian Dowling
Producer / Engineer / Mixer
Ian Dowling is a Grammy-winning recording engineer, composer & mixer. He has worked on multiple platinum albums by artists including Adele, Kasabian, The Kooks, One Direction & Catfish and The Bottlemen.
Other credits include KT Tunstall, Everything Everything, Black Honey, Blaenavon, McBusted, The Orwells, Seafret, Briston Maroney, Birdy, Circa Waves & LIFE
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Chris James
Singer-Songwriter / Composer
As a lead vocalist in 2006 Chris co-wrote & recorded songs for DJ Shadow & performed them live on his world tour. Now known as Run Rivers, Chris writes & records vocals for major dance labels including Anjuna/Enhanced/Armada & scores music for TV & film
Chris has worked with DJ Shadow, Tinlicker, Chicane, Joris Delacroix, Andrew Bayer, My Brightest Diamond, BAFTA winning Director Leo Burley & many more.
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Jim Abbiss
Producer / MPR Founder
Jim is one of the most successful Grammy Award-winning record producers in the UK. Jim has been integral in setting up the MPR to help & inspire upcoming artists.
Jim has worked with Adele, Bjork, DJ Shadow, Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys, KT Tunstall, Bombay Bicycle Club, Birdy, Nova Twins, Deadletter & many more.
personnel may vary subject to availability.
